Elizabeth Hair1, Morgane Bennett2, Valerie Williams3, Amanda Johnson4, Jessica Rath5, Jennifer Cantrell5, Andrea Villanti6, Craig Enders7, Donna Vallone8. 1. Evaluation Science and Research at Truth Initiative, 900 G Street NW, Fourth Floor, Washington, DC 20001, USA; Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address: ehair@truthinitiative.org. 2. Evaluation Science and Research at Truth Initiative, 900 G Street NW, Fourth Floor, Washington, DC 20001, USA; Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20052, USA. 3. Evaluation Science and Research at Truth Initiative, 900 G Street NW, Fourth Floor, Washington, DC 20001, USA. 4. Schroeder Institute for Tobacco Research and Policy Studies at Truth Initiative, 900 G Street NW, Fourth Floor, Washington, DC 20001, USA. 5. Evaluation Science and Research at Truth Initiative, 900 G Street NW, Fourth Floor, Washington, DC 20001, USA; Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. 6. Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Schroeder Institute for Tobacco Research and Policy Studies at Truth Initiative, 900 G Street NW, Fourth Floor, Washington, DC 20001, USA. 7. Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, 1285 Franz Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. 8. Evaluation Science and Research at Truth Initiative, 900 G Street NW, Fourth Floor, Washington, DC 20001, USA; Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; College of Global Public Health, New York University, 41 E. 11th St, New York, NY 10003, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: As tobacco control policies have been implemented across the U.S. over the past decade, patterns of smoking cigarettes have significantly changed, particularly among young adults. For many users, the typical daily use pattern of smoking several packs of cigarettes per day has been supplanted by a variety of use patterns, often referred to as light, intermittent, and occasional smoking. METHODS: The aim of this study was to examine progression to established smoking patterns among a nationally representative, longitudinal sample of young adults (n=9791). Using repeated measures latent class techniques (RMLCA), we modeled the distribution of cigarette smoking intensity over time and latent class categories. RESULTS: Findings demonstrate that young adults fall into three discrete classes that reflect probabilities for never to low use, daily use, and variable cigarette use for progression to established use of cigarettes: 79.3% fall into the class of "never or ever users" of cigarettes (no current use of cigarettes), 11.3% fall into the class of "rapid escalators" or daily users of cigarettes, and 9.4% fall into the "dabbler" class. Smoking patterns were found to be stable by the age of 21. CONCLUSIONS: Intervening prior to age 21 has the potential to disrupt progression to established smoking and reduce the long-term health consequences of smoking in this age group.
BACKGROUND: As tobacco control policies have been implemented across the U.S. over the past decade, patterns of smoking cigarettes have significantly changed, particularly among young adults. For many users, the typical daily use pattern of smoking several packs of cigarettes per day has been supplanted by a variety of use patterns, often referred to as light, intermittent, and occasional smoking. METHODS: The aim of this study was to examine progression to established smoking patterns among a nationally representative, longitudinal sample of young adults (n=9791). Using repeated measures latent class techniques (RMLCA), we modeled the distribution of cigarette smoking intensity over time and latent class categories. RESULTS: Findings demonstrate that young adults fall into three discrete classes that reflect probabilities for never to low use, daily use, and variable cigarette use for progression to established use of cigarettes: 79.3% fall into the class of "never or ever users" of cigarettes (no current use of cigarettes), 11.3% fall into the class of "rapid escalators" or daily users of cigarettes, and 9.4% fall into the "dabbler" class. Smoking patterns were found to be stable by the age of 21. CONCLUSIONS: Intervening prior to age 21 has the potential to disrupt progression to established smoking and reduce the long-term health consequences of smoking in this age group.
Authors: David B Abrams; Allison M Glasser; Andrea C Villanti; Jennifer L Pearson; Shyanika Rose; Raymond S Niaura Journal: Prev Med Date: 2018-06-23 Impact factor: 4.018
Authors: Michael J Parks; Megan E Patrick; David T Levy; James F Thrasher; Michael R Elliott; Nancy L Fleischer Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2020-10-08 Impact factor: 5.012